SOCIAL SCIENCE 4452 3.0
State and Civil Society in Latin America

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE TEACHING THIS COURSE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE DIRECTOR
Eduardo Canel

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course examines the newly emerging relationship between civil society, social movements, and the state that resulted from neoliberal restructuring in Latin America. The course reviews how various development discourses define the relationship between state, civil society and the market, and assesses the implications of these definitions for democracy, equality, and social justice in the region. The main aim of the course is to develop an understanding of the changing roles and functions of community organizations, social movements, and NGOs in Latin America today.

Many grass-root organizations and social movements in the region have recently entered into partnerships with governments and international development institutions to promote community participation in the design, monitoring, and management of local development programs. Proponents of these initiatives argue that they enhance citizen participation, local democracy, and community empowerment. Their critics, however, suggest that they “pacify” grass-root organizations by turning them into service providers and/or managers of local development projects and as a result, avoid the need for more radical politics. The course reviews these debates in order to analyze the actual and potential role of civil society and community-based initiatives in Latin America. This is achieved through an in-depth analysis of selected case studies and a systematic review of theories of social movements and grass-root development.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS, GRADES AND DUE DATES:

FORMAT:

As an upper-level seminar course students will be expected to actively participate in class. At the beginning of each class all students in attendance will present their ideas about the readings for that week. While the professor will facilitate the discussion, the impetus for class discussion will come from students.

READINGS:

A Reading Kit of all required readings is available for purchase at Keele Copy Centre, 4699 Keele St., Tel. (416) 665-9675.

Required readings are available at Scott’s Reserve Desk (2 hour loan). Electronic journal articles are not on reserve due to Scott Library policy. Students can access electronic journals on-line through Scott’s eResources. For information on accessing electronic journal articles go to Scott’s Reference Desk or visit http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/Home/eResources/RemoteAccess.htm?g11n.enc=UTF-8